Apparatus and method for arranging a spacer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for arranging a spacer includes a substrate, a roller, and an adhesion unit. The substrate includes a recessed portion. A spacer, which maintains a cell gap of a display panel and has an adhesive member formed thereon, is received in the recessed portion. The roller corresponds to the spacer. The roller makes contact with an exposed portion of the adhesive member. The adhesion unit provides for an adhesive strength between the exposed portion of the adhesive member and the roller that exceeds an adhesive strength between the received portion of the adhesive member and the recessed portion of the substrate so that the spacer may be printed on the roller. Therefore, a cell gap uniformity of a display device may be improved.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/456,701, filed on Jul. 11, 2006, and claims priority from and thebenefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-67237, filed on Jul.25, 2005. The contents of both are incorporated by reference for allpurposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for arranging a spacer anda method of arranging the spacer. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to an apparatus for arranging a spacer on a displaysubstrate and a method of arranging the spacer.

2. Discussion of the Background

Generally, display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCD),organic light emitting displays (OLED), etc., include a display panelfor displaying an image and a circuit board for applying driving signalsto the display panel.

The LCD includes two substrates having electrodes, respectively, aliquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates, and a spacer formaintaining a cell gap between the substrates. The cell gap is adistance between the substrates.

The spacer may be formed on the substrate using a dispersing process ora photo process. In the photo process, a photoresist layer is formed onthe substrate and patterned to form the spacer.

When the spacer is formed using the dispersing process, it is formed ina pixel region of the substrate, thereby deteriorating an image displayquality. When the spacer is formed using the photo process, the numberof steps in the photo process is increased. The photo process includessteps of forming, exposing, and developing the photoresist layer, etc.

A printing process has been developed to print the spacer on thesubstrate. In particular, the spacer is printed on a printing roller andthen printed on the substrate. Therefore, the printing process may besimpler than the photo process.

However, some of the spacers may not be printed on the printing roller,which may deteriorate cell gap uniformity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus for arranging a spacer on adisplay substrate.

The present invention also provides a method of arranging a spacer on adisplay substrate.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The present invention discloses an apparatus for arranging a spacer on asubstrate. The apparatus includes a substrate, a roller, and an adhesionunit. The substrate includes a recessed portion that receives thespacer, which has an adhesive member formed thereon. The adhesive memberincludes an exposed portion and a received portion. The rollercorresponds to the spacer, and adheres with the exposed portion of theadhesive member. The adhesion unit provides for an adhesive strengthbetween the exposed portion of the adhesive member and the roller thatexceeds an adhesive strength between the received portion of theadhesive member and the recessed portion of the substrate so that thespacer may be printed on the roller.

The present invention also discloses a method for arranging a spacer. Aspacer and an adhesive member formed thereon are aligned on a substratethat includes a recessed portion. An adhesive strength is providedbetween an exposed portion of the adhesive member that is protruded fromthe recessed portion and a roller corresponding to the spacer that isstronger than an adhesive strength between a received portion of theadhesive member and the recessed portion of the substrate. The spacerand the adhesive member are printed on the roller. The received portionof the adhesive member is attached to a display substrate to print thespacer on the display substrate.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing portion ‘A’ of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between an adhesive strengthand a surface temperature of a roller.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between an adhesive strengthand a surface temperature of a substrate.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a heating part mounted on theapparatus for arranging the spacer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a heating part mounted on theapparatus for arranging the spacer shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a method for arranging a spacer inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a spacer and an adhesivemember in a recessed portion of a substrate in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing printing of the spacer of FIG.13 on a roller.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing printing of the spacer of FIG.14 on a display substrate.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing removing a spacer remaining inthe recessed portion of the substrate shown in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventionare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so thatthis disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, thesize and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated forclarity.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, itcan be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layeror intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to”or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms areonly used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element,component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed asecond element, component, region, layer or section without departingfrom the teachings of the present invention.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein withreference to cross-section illustrations that are schematicillustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) ofthe invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrationsas a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances,are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not beconstrued as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustratedherein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example,from manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as arectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or agradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binarychange from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried regionformed by implantation may result in some implantation in the regionbetween the buried region and the surface through which the implantationtakes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematicin nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actualshape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Apparatus For Arranging Spacer

The apparatus for arranging the spacer includes a substrate, a roller,and an adhesion unit.

The substrate includes a plurality of recessed portions. The spacer,which maintains a cell gap between two display panel substrates, and anadhesive member formed on the spacer may be arranged in the recessedportions.

The size of the recessed portions may be determined according to thesize of the spacer. For example, the size of the spacer may be greaterthan a depth of the recessed portions so that the spacer partiallyprotrudes from a surface of the substrate. Alternatively, the size ofthe spacer may be no more than the depth of the recessed portions. Theadhesive member includes an exposed portion, which protrudes from thesurface of the substrate, and a received portion, which is received inthe recessed portions.

The roller corresponds to the spacer, and it contacts the exposedportion of the adhesive member.

The adhesion unit provides for a relatively stronger adhesion betweenthe exposed portion of the adhesive member and the roller than betweenthe received portion of the adhesive member and the recessed portion ofthe substrate so that the spacer in the recessed portions may besecurely printed on a printing unit.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showingportion ‘A’ of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the apparatus 100 for arranging thespacer includes a substrate 10, a roller 20 and an adhesion unit 30.

The substrate 10 may have a substantially plate shape. A plurality ofrecessed portions 12 are formed on the substrate 10. Each recessedportion 12 is recessed from a surface of the substrate 10, and at leastone spacer 14 may be arranged in each recessed portion 12. A width W anda depth D of the recessed portions 12 may be determined by the numberand size of the spacer 14, respectively. For example, the depth D may beless than the size of the spacer 14. Alternatively, the depth D may begreater than the size of the spacer 14.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the depth D of each of the recessed portions 12 isless than the size of the spacer 14. However, if the depth D was greaterthan the size of the spacer 14, an adhesive member 16, which is formedon the spacer 14, should still partially protrude from the surface ofthe substrate 10.

The adhesive member 16 includes an exposed portion 16 a that protrudesfrom the surface of the substrate 10 and a received portion 16 b that isreceived in the recessed portion 12.

The roller 20 corresponds to the surface of the substrate 10 having thespacer 14. For example, the roller 20 may have a substantiallycylindrical shape, and it may include a synthetic resin that adhereswith the adhesive member 16 that covers the spacer 14. The roller 20makes contact with the exposed portion 16 a of the adhesive member 16 orthe spacer 14 so that the spacer 14 may be printed on the roller 20.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between an adhesive strengthand a surface temperature of a roller, and FIG. 4 is a graph showing arelationship between an adhesive strength and a surface temperature of asubstrate.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, as the surfacetemperature of the roller 20 increases, the adhesive strength betweenthe roller 20 and the exposed portion 16 a of the adhesive member 16decreases. Similarly, as the surface temperature of the recessed portion12 increases, the adhesive strength between the recessed portion 12 andthe received portion 16 b of the adhesive member 16 decreases.

Conversely, as the surface temperature of the roller 20 decreases, theadhesive strength between the roller 20 and the exposed portion 16 a ofthe adhesive member 16 increases. Similarly, as the surface temperatureof the recessed portion 12 decreases, the adhesive strength between therecessed portion 12 and the received portion 16 b of the adhesive member16 increases.

In order to print the spacer 14 in the recessed portion 12 on the roller20, the adhesive strength between the roller 20 and the exposed portion16 a should be greater than the adhesive strength between the recessedportion 12 and the received portion 16 b. Therefore, according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention, the adhesive strengthbetween the roller 20 and the exposed portion 16 a may be increased sothat it exceeds the adhesive strength between the recessed portion 12and the received portion 16 b, and/or the adhesive strength between therecessed portion 12 and the received portion 16 b may be decreased sothat it is less than the adhesive strength between the roller 20 and theexposed portion 16 a.

The adhesion unit 30 increases the adhesive strength between the roller20 and the exposed portion 16 a so that the spacer 14 that is receivedin the recessed portions 12 may be printed on the roller 20. In order toincrease the adhesive strength between the roller 20 and the exposedportion 16 a, the adhesion unit 30 decreases the surface temperature ofthe roller 20.

In particular, the adhesion unit 30 includes a spraying part 32 and afluid supplying part 34. For example, the spraying unit 32 may be an airknife. The fluid supplying part 34 may further include a cooler (notshown) that decreases a temperature of a fluid such as an inert gas.Alternatively, the cooler (not shown) may be formed on the spraying part32 or a conduit that connects the spraying part 32 and the fluidsupplying part 34.

Examples of the inert gas that may be supplied by the fluid supplyingpart 34 include nitrogen, argon, helium, etc. They may be used alone oras a mixture thereof.

The fluid, such as the inert gas, from the fluid supplying part 34 issprayed onto the roller 20 through the spraying part 32 to decrease thetemperature of the roller 20. A temperature difference between thesurface of the roller 20 and each of the recessed portions 12 may beabout 5° C. to about 35° C.

When the inert gas decreases the surface temperature of the roller 20,the adhesive strength between the roller 20 and the exposed portion 16 aof the adhesive member 16 may be greater than that between the recessedportions 12 and the received portion 16 b of the adhesive member 16 sothat the spacer 14 in the recessed portion 12 may be printed on theroller 20.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a heating part mounted on theapparatus for arranging the spacer shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, in order to decrease the adhesive strength betweenthe received portion 16 b of the adhesive member 16 and the recessedportion 12, a heating part 17 may be included on the substrate 10. Forexample, the heating part 17 may be a heater having a heating coil thatsupplies heat to a portion of the substrate 10. The heating part 17 mayinclude a plurality of heating coils and a plurality of power supplieselectrically connected to the heating coils, respectively. The heatingpart 17 may be formed on a portion of the substrate 10 corresponding tothe recessed portions 12. When the heating part 17 heats the recessedportions 12, the adhesive strength between the received portion 16 b ofthe adhesive member 16 and the recessed portions 12 may decrease so thatthe spacer 14 in the recessed portion 12 may be printed on the roller20.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus for arranging the spacer of FIG. 6 is the sameas that in FIG. 1 except for an adhesion unit. Thus, the same referencenumerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1 to 5 and any further explanation will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, the adhesion unit 40 increases an adhesive strengthbetween a roller 20 and an exposed portion 16 a of an adhesive member 16so that the spacer 14 that is received in the recessed portion 12 may beprinted on the roller 20. In particular, the adhesion unit 40 decreasesa temperature of the exposed portion 16 a of the adhesive member 16 sothat the adhesive strength between the roller 20 and the exposed portion16 a of the adhesive member 16 may increase.

Here, the adhesion unit 40 includes a spraying part 42 and a fluidsupplying part 44. For example, the spraying unit 42 may be an airknife. The fluid supplying part 44 may further include a cooler (notshown) that decreases a temperature of a fluid, such as an inert gas.Alternatively, the cooler (not shown) may be formed on the spraying part42 or a conduit that connects the spraying part 42 and the fluidsupplying part 44.

Examples of the inert gas that may be supplied by the fluid supplyingpart 44 include nitrogen, argon, helium, etc. They may be used alone oras a mixture thereof.

The fluid, such as the inert gas, from the fluid supplying part 44 issprayed onto the exposed portion 16 a of the adhesive member 16 so thata temperature of the exposed portion 16 a is less than a temperature ofthe received portion 16 b. A temperature difference between the exposedportion 16 a and the received portion 16 b may be about 5° C. to about35° C.

When the inert gas decreases the surface temperature of the exposedportion 16 a, the adhesive strength between the roller 20 and theexposed portion 16 a may be greater than that between the recessedportion 12 and the received portion 16 b so that the spacer 14 in therecessed portion 12 may be printed on the roller 20.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a heating part mounted on theapparatus for arranging the spacer shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, in order to decrease the adhesive strength betweena received portion 16 b of an adhesive member 16 and the recessedportion 12, a heating part 18 may be included on a substrate 10. Forexample, the heating part 18 may be a heater having a heating coil thatsupplies heat to a portion of the substrate 10. The heating part 18 mayinclude a plurality of heating coils and a single power supplyelectrically connected to the heating coils.

The heating part 18 may be formed on a portion of the substrate 10corresponding to the recessed portions 12. When the heating part 18heats the recessed portions 12, the adhesive strength between thereceived portion 16 b of the adhesive member 16 and the recessedportions 12 may decrease so that the spacer 14 in the recessed portion12 may be printed on the roller 20.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus for arranging the spacer of FIG. 8 is the sameas that in FIGS. 1 and 5 except for an adhesion unit. Thus, the samereference numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts asthose described in FIGS. 1 to 5 and any further explanation will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the adhesion unit further comprises aspacer cleaning part 50 to remove a remaining spacer 14 c from recessedportions 12 of a substrate 10.

Particularly, when a spacer in a recessed portion 12 does not attach toa roller 20, that remaining spacer 14 c remains in the recessed portion12.

When the remaining spacer 14 c is in the recessed portion 12, a newspacer 14 from a subsequent process may be attached on the remainingspacer 14 c, and the remaining spacer 14 c and the new spacer 14 maythen be attached to the roller 20. In other words, the new spacer 14 maybe stacked on the remaining spacer 14 c. When the stacked remainingspacer 14 c and new spacer 14 are attached to the roller 20, they may beprinted on a display substrate (not shown), which decreases cell gapuniformity of a display panel (not shown) and deteriorates an imagedisplay quality of the display panel (not shown).

The spacer cleaning part 50 may include a cleaning part 52 and a fluidsupplying part 54 that supplies the cleaning part 52 with a fluid. Forexample, the cleaning part 52 injects a cleaning gas such as an inertgas. Examples of the inert gas that may be injected through the cleaningpart 52 include nitrogen, argon, helium, etc. They may be used alone orin a mixture thereof.

The fluid supplying part 54 supplies the cleaning part 52 with fluid,such as the cleaning gas. The cleaning part 52 removes the remainingspacer 14 c from the recessed portion 12 to prevent stacking of the newspacer 14. The spacer cleaning part 50 may further include a gatheringcover 56 adjacent to the cleaning part 52 so that the remaining spacer14 c may be removed and collected in the gathering cover 56.

In FIG. 8, the remaining spacer 14 c is removed from the recessedportion 12 before the new spacer 14 is arranged in the recessed portion12. Therefore, the stacking of the remaining spacer 14 c and the newspacer 14 may be prevented, thereby increasing cell gap uniformity ofthe display panel.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus for arranging the spacer of FIG. 9 is the sameas in FIG. 1 except for an adhesion unit. Thus, the same referencenumerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1 to 5 and any further explanation will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the adhesion unit 60 may include anembossed portion 62 on a roller 20.

When the embossed portion 62 is formed on the roller 20, a contactsurface between an exposed portion 16 a of an adhesive member 16 and theroller 20 may be greater than a contact surface between the receivedportion 16 b of the adhesive member 16 and the recessed portion 12.Therefore, an adhesive strength between the exposed portion 16 a and theroller 20 may be greater than an adhesive strength between the receivedportion 16 b and the recessed portion 12 so that the spacer 14 may beprinted on the embossed portion 62.

In FIG. 9, the embossed portion 62 increases an area of the contactsurface between the exposed portion 16 a and the roller 20 or thecontact surface between the received portion 16 b and the roller 20.Thus, the area of the contact surface between the exposed portion 16 aand the roller 20 or the contact surface between the received portion 16b and the recessed portion 12 may be controlled so that the spacer 14may be printed on the embossed portion 62.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus for arranging the spacer of FIG. 10 is the sameas in FIG. 1 except for an adhesion unit. Thus, the same referencenumerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1 to 5 and any further explanation will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 10, in order to print a spacer 14 that isreceived in the recessed portion 12 on a roller 20, an adhesion unit 70may be arranged adjacent to the substrate 10. For example, the adhesionunit 70 may be a sound wave generating unit that generates a sonic waveto increase a fluidity of a received portion 16 b in the recessedportion 12.

When irradiating sonic waves onto the received portion 16 b of theadhesive member 16, the fluidity of the received portion 16 b mayincrease, thereby decreasing an adhesive strength between the recessedportion 12 and the received portion 16 b. Hence, an adhesive strengthbetween the roller 20 and the exposed portion 16 a may be stronger thanthe adhesive strength between the recessed portion 12 and the receivedportion 16 b. Therefore, the spacer 14 may be printed on the roller 20.

In FIG. 10, the sonic waves are irradiated onto the recessed portion 12of the substrate 10 to decrease the adhesive strength between thereceived portion 16 b of the adhesive member 16 and the recessed portion12 so that the spacer 14 may be printed on the roller 20.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for arranging aspacer in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus for arranging the spacer of FIG. 11 is the sameas that in FIG. 1 except for a roller. Thus, the same reference numeralswill be used to refer to the same or like parts as those described inFIGS. 1 to 5 and any further explanation will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 11, the roller 20 may further include aspacer separating unit 80.

When an adhesive strength between an exposed portion 16 a of an adhesivemember 16 that is attached to the roller 20 is greater than an adhesivestrength between a display substrate 1 and a received portion 16 b ofthe adhesive member 16, a spacer 14 may not be printed on a displaysubstrate 1. In other words, the spacer 14 may remain on the roller 20.

In FIG. 11, the roller 20 further includes the spacer separating unit 80so that a spacer 14 that is printed on the roller 20 may be printed onthe display substrate 1.

The spacer separating unit 80 includes a second spraying part 82, asecond fluid supplying part 84, and a heating part 86.

The second spraying part 82 sprays a fluid from the second fluidsupplying part 84 toward an interface between the adhesive member 16 andthe roller 20. The fluid from the second fluid supplying part 84 may bean inert gas. The heating part 86 may heat the fluid from the secondfluid supplying part 84 so that its temperature is no less than that ofthe adhesive member 16. The heating part 86 may be a heater having aheating coil that is on a conduit 83, which connects the second fluidsupplying part 84 and the second spraying part 82. Alternatively, theheating part 86 may be in the second fluid supplying part 84, and it mayalso be on the spraying part 82.

The fluid is sprayed from the spraying part 82 toward the interfacebetween the adhesive member 16 and the roller 20 so that the adhesivestrength between the adhesive member 16 and the roller 20 may decrease.Therefore, the spacer 14 that is attached on the roller 20 may beprinted on the display substrate 1.

In FIG. 11, the spacer separating unit 80 heats the adhesive member 16that is attached to the roller 20. Alternatively, the spacer separatingunit 80 may be in the roller 20. Furthermore, the spacer separating unit80 may be a cooler adjacent to the display substrate 1 so that atemperature of the display substrate 1 may be lower than that of theadhesive member 16.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a method for arranging a spacer inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.13 is a cross-sectional view showing a spacer and an adhesive member ina recessed portion of a substrate in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, a spacer 14 is aligned on a substrate10 having a recessed portion 12 (step S10). An adhesive member 16 isformed on the spacer 14. The spacer 14 having the adhesive member 16 isreceived in the recessed portion 12 using a scraper (not shown). InFIGS. 12 and 13, a plurality of spacers 14 may be received in therecessed portion 12.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing printing of the spacer of FIG.13 on a roller.

Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 14, an adhesive strength between theexposed portion of the adhesive member and the roller that is strongerthan an adhesive strength between the received portion of the adhesivemember and the recessed portion of the substrate is provided (step S20).That is, the adhesive strength between the exposed portion 16 a of theadhesive member 16 and the roller 20 may be increased so that it exceedsan adhesive strength between a received portion 16 b of the adhesivemember 16 and the recessed portion 12, and/or the adhesive strengthbetween the recessed portion 12 and the received portion 16 b may bedecreased so that it is less than the adhesive strength between theroller 20 and the exposed portion 16 a.

In order to increase the adhesive strength between the exposed portion16 a of the adhesive member 16 and the roller 20, a coolant may besprayed on the roller 20 through a cooling part of a fluid supplyingpart 34.

After the adhesive unit 30 cools the roller 20, the roller 20 makescontact with the adhesive member 16 in the recessed portion 12. Theadhesive strength between the exposed portion 16 a of the adhesivemember 16 and the roller 20 may be greater than an adhesive strengthbetween a received portion 16 b of the adhesive member 16 and therecessed portion 12 so that the spacer 14 in the recessed portion 12 maybe printed on the roller 20 (step S30). In FIG. 14, the coolant issprayed on the roller 20. Alternatively, the coolant may be sprayed onthe exposed portion 16 a of the adhesive member 16. Further, a sonicwave may be irradiated onto the received portion 16 b of the adhesivemember 16 so that the spacer 14 in the recessed portion 12 may beprinted on the roller 20. Furthermore, a first heating part 18 may heatthe substrate 10 so that the adhesive strength between a receivedportion 16 b of the adhesive member 16 and the recessed portion 12 maydecrease.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing printing of the spacer of FIG.14 on a display substrate.

Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 15, the roller 20 including the spacer 14is transported on a display substrate 1. The adhesive member 16 on thespacer 14 makes contact with the display substrate 1 so that the spacer14 and the adhesive member 16 may be printed on the display substrate 1(step S40).

When the adhesive strength between the roller 20 and the exposed portion16 a of the adhesive member 16 is greater than an adhesive strengthbetween the display substrate 1 and the received portion 16 b of theadhesive member 16, the spacer 14 that is on the roller 20 may not beprinted on the display substrate 1.

Therefore, in order to decrease the adhesive strength between the roller20 and the exposed portion 16 a, a fluid that is heated by a secondheating part 86 of a spacer separating unit 80 may be sprayed on theadhesive member 16 that is attached to the roller 20. Therefore, theadhesive strength between the roller 20 and the adhesive member 16attached to the roller 20 may be decreased so that the spacer 14 may beprinted on the display substrate 1.

In FIG. 15, the adhesive member 16 attached to the roller 20 is heatedso that the spacer 14 may be printed on the display substrate 1.Alternatively, a temperature of the display substrate 1 may be decreasedso that the spacer 14 attached to the roller 20 may be printed on thedisplay substrate 1. Further, a sonic wave may be irradiated onto theadhesive member 16 so that the spacer 14 attached to the roller 20 maybe printed on the display substrate 1.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing removing a spacer remaining inthe recessed portion of the substrate shown in FIG. 13.

Referring to FIG. 16, after the spacer 14 is printed on the roller 20, aremaining spacer 14 c that remains in the recessed portion 12 may beremoved. A cleaning part 52 of the spacer cleaning part 50 sprays acleaning gas on the substrate 10 so that the remaining spacer 14 c maybe removed from the recessed portion 12. Therefore, a new spacer 14 maynot be stacked on the remaining spacer 14 c.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the spacermay be easily printed between display panel substrates so that the cellgap uniformity of the display device may be improved.

This invention has been described with reference to the exemplaryembodiments. It is evident, however, that many alternative modificationsand variations will be apparent to those having skill in the art inlight of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the present inventionembraces all such alternative modifications and variations as fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for arranging a spacer, comprising: aligning a spacer havingan adhesive member formed thereon on a substrate that comprises arecessed portion; providing an adhesive strength between an exposedportion of the adhesive member and a roller that is stronger than anadhesive strength between a received portion of the adhesive member andthe recessed portion of the substrate; printing the spacer and theadhesive member on the roller; and attaching the received portion of theadhesive member to a display substrate to print the spacer on thedisplay substrate.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing theadhesive strength between the exposed portion of the adhesive member andthe roller that is stronger than the adhesive strength between thereceived portion of the adhesive member and the recessed portion of thesubstrate comprises spraying a coolant on the roller.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, further comprising heating the recessed portion of thesubstrate.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the adhesivestrength between the exposed portion of the adhesive member and theroller that is stronger than the adhesive strength between the receivedportion of the adhesive member and the recessed portion of the substratecomprises spraying a coolant on the exposed portion.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, further comprising heating the recessed portion of thesubstrate.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing aremaining spacer that remains in the recessed portion from the recessedportion after attaching the spacer and the adhesive member on theroller.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein removing the remaining spacercomprises spraying a fluid in the recessed portion.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein providing the adhesive strength between the exposedportion of the adhesive member and the roller that is stronger than theadhesive strength between the received portion of the adhesive memberand the recessed portion of the substrate comprises irradiating a sonicwave on the recessed portion.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein theprinting of the spacer on the display substrate further comprisesheating the roller so that a temperature of the roller is greater than atemperature of the display substrate.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereinthe roller is heated by a fluid that has a greater temperature than thetemperature of the display substrate.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinthe printing of the spacer on the display substrate further comprisesirradiating a sonic wave on the roller.